SCOA-Evolving? Stagnant? Regressing?

[kwagar]

I am a long term, active and supporting member of SCOA and have found it to be a great forum site over the past two years. I will remain active in the site going forward.

However, it seems that we have lost many of the original members and posters from 2007 and the early months of 2008 or at least many of them do not appear to be active recently.

The number of active threads and posts appears to be down considerably over the past year and many of the currently active posts and threads seem to be repeats of threads that have been beaten to death the past year and a half.

It's understandable that new owners have questions and issues that those of us around for a while have previously hashed out, but after a while the repetitive threads and posts become a bit boring and redundant which causes some to lose interest due to an apparent lack of new threads, new mods, new activities and new issues.

This may be the nature of such forums and a natural progression but I am curious if you feel SCOA is becoming less fun, less informative and less meaningful to you Or if it remains at a similar level of interest to you that it has been in the past or if you still find it new and exciting.

Finally can you think of ways that SCOA could be improved that would make it fresh and of more interest to you than it may be currently?

In your replys please indicate the month and year you took possession of your smart car.

I took possession on Feb 1, 2008

[JPaul]

Originally Posted by kwagar

... In your replys please indicate the month and year you took possession of your smart car. ...

You may have hit the nail on the head right here: too many of the "early timers" have their car, and are basically happy with it. No reason for them (us) to keep on posting. No news is... good news!






May 08.

[jetfuel]

...maybe may be the lack of new members...yesterday at Indy meeting not that many people knew about the site when I asked to see hands for members...
...the search feature needs to improve by a ton and new comers should be encourage to use it for every day issues already covered here..

jetfuel.....July 08
...

[Dan500]

Can`t think of any improvements but have had my smart since April 30th 08.

[Dunerunner]

I think this forum is far superior to any other smart car forum on the net with respect to relevant information for the North American 451 smart car owner. Thanks to everyone here for that!! Clubs are starting to get organized, vendors are creating exciting new products for those who want to personalize their smart, and I feel within the next two years a National Meet won't be something we just talk about!! The routine questions are to be expected from those who have just found out about the smart. That is what the FAQ's and other collections of information are for, to assist the supporting members in finding the information and getting it to those interested potential enthusiasts!!

[SmartDigger]

I just picked up my car last week. been here for over a year. From what I see

1) Most good info is already posted lessing the post rate.

2) Someone always yells, "SEARCH IS YOUR BEST FRIEND" or something like that if you ask a question covered in a previous post. Cuts down on posting.

3) Finally, I look more than I post, which many others also do I would think.

[2smartArizona]

Now that I have my car, Dec 31, 2008, I don't find I have the interest to come on here as much as I used to.

Not much interesting happening here to me.....sorry too, that I have little of interest to offer too, although I wish I did......I wish I had something to offer. Other than my trip to the factory I think I have had little of any interest to offer on the forum.

I am also turned off by the people that can't take any criticism of the smart and seem angered that the car does not work out for some people. After seeing threads of this type with so many defensive types it turns me off and I go away for a while.

I have many other interests too, motorcycling, photography, travel, so I have other things I can put time into other than playing with smart car stuff.

I think maybe I was more obsessed with being here while waiting for my car to arrive though, and now that it is here, the interest has waned for me. Maybe this will change, but I don't think I'll be here much in the coming months as I prepare for summer adventure.

[Mike T]

The same thing happened at clubsmartcar.com (formerly .ca); the early days were massively busy and now that we've had smarts to kick around in for 4 and a half years, there is some complacency. Still it's good and the purpose remains.

[mfoster]

I've been checking this site almost daily since I found it in the summer of 2007. Picked up my first smart as an orphan in February 2008. Picked up my second one in September. New items for discussion will come up as we continue to add miles to our cars (plug replacements, valve adjustments) and more accessories become available (turbo stories etc.)

I'm sure a big topic of discussion will be the online manual when it becomes available. I'm sure guys like fredvon4 will continue to be active on the site. Their contributions are things I look forward to.

Mike

[forestacademy]

Originally Posted by Dunerunner

I think this forum is far superior to any other smart car forum on the net with respect to relevant information for the North American 451 smart car owner.

This is what makes this the site I go to. I haves checked other sites and other than a great DIY on LED Cargo area lighting don't find them usefull and poorly moderated (to much spam).

I have seen a lot of new owners comming on here lately. They have questions and maybe it is a mistake to Say Search for it, or Search for it and point them to the threads (thats what I do).
When we start the discussion again we keep the site active. When we point them to past discussions that is the end of it.

But I will admit I have complained that some horses have been beaten to death, and just sent them to past threads. ie Gas tank Size.

Oct 09